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Still, the 22-year-old defenceman realizes what has become apparent: He’s going to make his National Hockey League debut on Wednesday night for the Maple Leafs.

“It would be a dream come true,” Borgman said on Monday after the Leafs practised at the MasterCard Centre.

“I just try to not think about that so much. I try to work hard every day and hopefully I am on the roster.”

Borgman was paired with defenceman Connor Carrick during practice, an indication the two will be together against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday when the Leafs open the 2017-18 regular season on the road.

It would appear 6-foot, 212-pound Borgman has won the job over incumbent Martin Marincin and another Swedish rookie, Calle Rosen.

“Borgman is a big, heavy guy who can really skate, has great edges, still has things to learn for sure,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “Carrick gets ahead of those guys because of his experience and he is a right-hand shot, so that helps him as well.”

Carrick knows there won’t be time for getting accustomed to playing with Borgman if the two are together to start.

“The expectation is going to be high-level execution right away,” Carrick said. “It’s my job to have been there and talk to him. He’s a good player. But we also know it’s not written in stone. It’s written in dry-erase marker on the board.

“I take it as an honour to play the role (of mentor) and that I’m trusted in that. The opportunity to help him play is absolutely a nod of confidence.”

DEPTH CAUSES DAMAGE

The Leafs’ depth at forward — any of the Auston Matthews line, the Tyler Bozak trio or the Nazem Kadri group is capable of scoring on any shift — should create headaches for opposing coaches.

“It makes them have to pick and choose who they are going to put their shutdown line against,” veteran Patrick Marleau said. “That allows somebody in our lineup to go up against a line that is not well-equipped to stop guys.

“It’s good to get those mismatches as much as possible but you have to take advantage of them at the same time.”

Marleau isn’t on Matthews’ line, but will see power-play time with the 20-year-old. Does Matthews, with his high-end skill and determination, remind Marleau of anyone?

General manager Lou Lamoriello said unless there is a late change of mind, the Leafs will have 14 forwards, seven defencemen and two goalies on the 23-player roster, due to the NHL by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. That means it’s possible Rosen, who does not require waivers, is sent to the Toronto Marlies … Babcock wasn’t sure whether it will be Eric Fehr or Dominic Moore as the fourth-line centre to start in Winnipeg. Both took rushes between wingers Matt Martin and Connor Brown on Monday. “They are both good veteran players, know how to play,” Babcock said. “I don’t know if we will platoon them, don’t know what we are going to do exactly.” … Lamoriello said there has been no clarity from the NHL regarding the contract of Joffrey Lupul and whether the Leafs can put the forward and his $5.25-million US cap hit on long-term injured reserve. The Leafs would love to do so, and reports suggested Lupul was to undergo a physical by an independent doctor on Monday. The Leafs should learn the result on Tuesday. Whether it impacts another cut or two remains to be seen … Among the 15 players cut were centre Miro Aaltonen, who progressed in camp, and forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Nikita Soshnikov. Babcock and Lamoriello stressed that they believe all three will be in the NHL, in the not-too-distant future. That none required waivers to be sent down to the Marlies helped in the decision to demote them … No decision has been made on Roman Polak, in camp on a tryout, or rookie Timothy Liljegren. “As far as what the future brings, I would not know,” Lamoriello said of Polak. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed and practised.” The club is mulling whether to have Liljegren play with the Marlies or send back to Sweden. Liljegren’s Canadian Hockey League rights are owned by Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League … Also loaned to the Marlies were goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo, defencemen Travis Dermott, Justin Holl, Michael Paliotta, Andrew Nielsen and Rinat Valiev; and forwards Frederik Gauthier, Andreas Johnsson, Tobias Lindberg, Mason Marchment, Trevor Moore, and Dmytro Timashov. Six other players — goalie Garret Sparks, defenceman Vincent LoVerde and forwards Colin Greening, Chris Mueller, Kerby Rychel and Ben Smith — have been placed on waivers. If they clear, it is expected they will report to the Marlies … Forward Carl Grundstrom, who had a strong camp, has been reassigned to Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League. The Leafs did not have the option of sending Grundstrom to the Marlies.